Cribbage board



Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE lfissa-195 CRIBAGE BOARD Rol-lin C. Holton, anton, Ohio Application 'separater 1, 1944, serial NQ. 552,332

(o1. :h-90o 4 Claims. 1

My invention relates in general t'o game boards and specifically to a cribbage scoring board.

in the game of cribbage, a scoring board is used t0 tally game points. Standard 'scoring boards for scoring Cribbage games are usually made of a single piece of material, such as wood, and marked into three sections, which are used by the p'ayers for scoring. These sections are tperforated with a series of small holes into which small pegs are inserted to indicate the progress of the gaine. This type of scoring board is placed upon the playing table and must be passed to the player who wishes to mark his score, or else the player is obliged to reach across the table to the board. Further, the score pegs often become concen. trated in a small area upon the board when all paths are in use and thus the player who has an inside path might accidentally knock other scoring pegs from their small holes when moving his pegs and thus confuse the scoring of the game. In the game 'of Cribbage,l two opposing players use two paths, one for each player. For opposing partners, two paths are used, one fior each set of partners. In this application, the des-'- ignation two players means either tWo opDOsing players or sets of partners Two players might use such a board wit-hout any inconvenience, because each player can use an outside path, thus avoiding confusion. However, when three players are using the board, confusion often results because the inside path can be reached only by reaching/gever the outside paths.

Therefore, an` object of my invention is to r.provide a Cribbage scoring board which provides two scoring paths in parallel position 4for two players, and which may be unfolded to a triangular form for three players.

Another object of my invention is to provide a Cribbage sco-ring board which has individual scoring paths separated from other 'scoring paths to provide ample finger room for moving pegs on the board without accidentally knocking other pegs from their srnall holes. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a cribbage scoring board which is within 4easy reach of all players `and thereby reduce the 7^distance necessary for players :to reach `for 'scoring when three players are playing. y Y

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the follow'- ing description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is `a pian view of my Cribbage scoring board in its, closed position whenr used by only two players, and showsin dotted-lines the 'pos-i- A2 tion of the third` section within the storage 'chaine ber'of the yboard;

Figure 2 is a plan view of my cri-bba'ge scoring board as it appears when the third section is inserted between the end of the pivotably cmnec'ted sections when in use for three players; l

Figure 3 is an end view 'of the pivoting 'end o'f Figure 1 and shows the pivoting means used 'in connection with the two pivoted sections of 'the scoring board, and shows the A7spring means which is used to urge the two pivotable sections ltogether;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional 'View ytaken along the line 4-'4 of Figure 2, and illustrates the tongue Vandl groove construction used to provide a stable attachment between lthe ends of the de'- tachable section, and the ends of the pivoted sections; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the scoring board, taken along the line A5 5 of Figure 1, and shows the relationship of the three sections as they appear when the board is folded for play between the two players or when the board is stored after use. y

With reference to the Figure 1, I illustrate my cribbage scoringA board generally by the reference character Ill. This view illustrates a section II and a section I2 pivotably V'ctmnfected by a suitL able pivoting means, suc-h vas by the hinge I8. The ends of the scoring board I- opposite 'the hinge I8 are free lto swing voutwardly from one another, or be held securely together by a fastening 4device such as the catch hook 2I, and the catch eye 22.. t

The hinge I8, the catch hook 2| and the catch eye 22 may be fastened to the sections II and I2 by means of screws, such as the screws 2U, 23 and 24 respectively. Each of these fittings is prefer,- ably formedkto fit around the angular corners of the bottom, side and top of the sections to provide protection against corner damage and to increase strength. ISprings I 9 arepreferably pro` vided in conjunction with the hinge pivoting means i8V to urge the sections I I and I2 together.

A recess I4` is provided in the section II, 'and a recess I5 is provided in the section I2. These 'ref cesses abut when the sections I Ipan'd I2 are closed together, andform a chamber 21 within the scoring board I0, see Figure 5. The third Vsection Ii! ls provided for use when three players are fusing the scoring board -is stored within the 'charnber21 when-not in use, as illustrated in the Figf ure 1.

The vscoring Vsections II 'and 'I 2 'are made vof any suitable material such 'as wood, and a'r-e marked on top in much the same manner as the conventional single section of a standard cribbage scoring board. The top of each of these sections is perforated with a series of small holes I6 to form receptacles for scoring pegs which are used to score the game. The bodies of the sections II and I2, however, are made relatively thick and are recessed to form the recesses I4 and I5 on one longitudinal side by any suitable means, such as by a circular saw of other cutting tool. Small openings I1 may be provided within the recess I into which scoring pegs may be inserted for storage whenever the scoring board Ill is not in use. These storage holes I1 may provide a safe storage place for the scoring pegs and insures against their accidental loss.

As can be seen with reference to the Figures l and 5, With the scoring sections I I and I2 in their closed position, a compact and neat appearing scoring board for two players is provided, and the recesses I4 and I5 abut to form the chamber 21 which is used to store the third section I3 when the section I3 is not in use.

Referring to the Figure 4, itis seen that a small projecting ledge 25 is provided along the longitudinal edges of the sections II and I2 which are disposed to contact or abut against one another. In this particular embodiment of my invention, the ledge 25 is provided by making the playing surface narrower than the main body of the section, and by providing the recesses I4 and I5 as described. This ledge 25 is in effect much like the tongue provided on lumber.

The third section I3 is marked and perforated on its top playing surface in substantially the same manner as the sections II and I2. However, the section I3 is made thin enough to permit the section I3 to reside within the chamber 2'I, and thus the chamber 21 provides a convenient storage chamber for the section I3. As best illustrated in the Figure 2, the ends of the section I3 are cut at an angle to provide close fitting surfaces between the ends of the section I3 and the ends of the sections I I and I2. The ends of the section I3 are provided with protruding ledges 26 to form a groove as illustrated in the Figure 4, to permit the tongue 25 of the sections II and I2 to fit therein and provide a stable, non-rocking attachment. The outer edge of the section I3 is disposed to contact the catch hook 2I at one end and is disposed to contact the catch eye 22 at the other end to prevent the section I3 from moving laterally under the pinching or squeezing action of the sections II andA I2 as they are urged together by the springs I9.

Whenever three players are to use this cribbage scoring board IQ, the catch hook 2I is snapped oif of the catch eye 22, and the sections II and I2 are swung apart against the action of the springs I9 to permit removal of the section I3 from the chamber 21. The section I3 is then inserted between the ends of the sections II and I2 with the tongue 25 of the sections II and I2 fitting into the groove formed by the ridges 2S of the section I3, and with the outer edge of the section I3 contacting the catch parts 2I and 22 at its ends. The springs I9, it will be readily understood, tend to urge the ends of the sections II and I2 back together. This spring action of the spring means I9 causes the section I3 to be removably attached or to be pinned between the ends of the sections II and I2 and thereby provide a stable attachment.

With the scoring board I0 opened and assembled as described, a convenient triangular scor- 4 ing board is provided which is within easy reach of the various players, and provides individual scoring paths which reduces confusion and eliminates accidental loosening of other players pegs or knocking them from their small holes.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by Way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

l. A folding game board comprising a first scoring section, a second scoring section, and a third scoring section, each of said scoring sections having a first and second end, said first and section sections each having a recess provided in one longitudinal side thereof, said first and second sections being pivotably joined together at their respective first ends with their respective recesses disposed toward one another whereby a closed chamber may be produced by pivoting the said sections into contact with one another, said third section being provided with suitable dimensions to permit the third section to reside within said chamber when the game board is folded, said third section having suitable engaging surfaces at its ends to permit attaching the first end of the third section to the second end of the first section and the second end of the third section to the second end of the second section, said folding game board being triangular in form when unfolded with said second section forming a bridge between the second ends of the first and second sections.

2. A folding cribbage score board comprising three scoring sections with a series of openings disposed to receive scoring pegs, each of said sections having a first and second end, the first and second of said sections each being provided with a recess along their respective longitudinal sides, pivoting means to pivotably connect said first and second sections together at their said first ends, spring means to urge the second ends of said first and second sections together pivotably about the said pivoting means with said rccesses of the first and second sections adapted to abut and form a chamber when the first and second sections are urged together, said third seotion being of suitable proportion to reside within said chamber, the first end of the third section being adapted to be removably attached to` the second end of the first section and the second end of the third section being adapted to be removably attached to the second end of the second section whereby the third section may be re moved from said chamber and placed between the second ends of the first and second sections and be held in place by the action of the said spring means, catch means provided to fasten said second ends of the first and second sections together when the cribbage score board is folded, and storage space within said chamber for storing pegs.

3. A cribbage board for scoring a cribbage game comprising three individual scoring sections, each of the said scoring sections comprising a rectangular member with a first and a second end, first, second, and third joint means to join said sections together at their respective ends in triangular form, one of said joints being pivotable, and another of said joints being readily disjoined, said pivotable joint permitting two of said scoring sections to abut along corresponding longitudinal edges thereof, said two abutting sections having recesses provided on their longitudinal edges disposed to form an enclosed chamber when said scoring sections abut, the third section being of a size so as to be capable of being enclosed within said chamber when said sections are in abutting relation.

4. A folding Cribbage score board comprising three scoring sections with a series of openings disposed to receive scoring pegs, each of said sections having a first and second end, the rst and second of said sections each being provided with a recess along their respective longitudinal sides, pivoting means to pivotably connect said first and second sections together at their said rst ends, and spring means to urge the second ends of said rst and second sections together pivotably about the said pivoting means with said recesses of the first and second sections adapted to abut and form a chamber when the first and second sections are urged together, said third section being of suitable proportion to reside Within said chamber, the rst end of the third section being adapted to be removably attached to the second end of the rst section and the second end of the third section being adapted to be removably attached to the second end of the second section whereby the third section may be removed from said chamber and placed between the second ends of the iirst and second sections and be held in place by the action of the said spring means.

ROLLIN C. HOLTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Iiie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

